Chapter 48: Mid-Grade Alchemist

Qin Ming was lost in thought.

"Of course, teaching you this true incantation comes with conditions."

"But I won't tell you yet," Su Yuqing said noncommittally.

Qin Ming couldn't let such a heavenly opportunity slip by—once this village passed, there'd be no more shops.

He immediately nodded and replied, "Brother Su, rest assured—I won't reveal it to anyone. Within my capacity, I'll agree to anything you ask."

Su Yuqing finally smiled.

He took out a set of arrays from his storage pouch, enveloping both of them, then transmitted the full incantation of the Yin-Yang Separation and Union Spirit Control True Incantation to Qin Ming.

Qin Ming focused his mind, silently reciting the incantation repeatedly until he had memorized every word without omission.

During the transmission, Qin Ming grew more and more astonished, unable to help but marvel: Su Yuqing was truly a prodigy.

His monstrous talent in alchemy was no mere boast.

After one incense stick's time.

Qin Ming had fully assimilated the true incantation.

"That's enough. If you ever gain the ability, you may innovate upon these insights yourself."

"Now, brew another batch of Spirit Gathering Pills for me," Su Yuqing said, his expression clearly one of testing Qin Ming.

Qin Ming nodded.

He took a deep breath, emptied his mind, and the full text of the alchemy techniques appeared in his thoughts.

Suddenly! Qin Ming opened his eyes and activated the Yin-Yang Separation and Union Spirit Control True Incantation—he clearly felt that from extracting the herbal base to the final fusion of the medicinal ingredients, every step had become fluid and seamless.

Watching from the side, Su Yuqing muttered in disbelief, "This is ridiculous—has this kid's soul force really grown so strong?"

The most critical moment arrived.

The medicinal ingredients inside the cauldron began to merge and take shape, but if this trend continued, another dud would form.

Qin Ming concentrated his spirit and immediately activated the fusion technique from the true incantation.

The already merging herbal liquids separated once more; the medicinal ingredients, as if guided by invisible hands, followed Qin Ming's will, continuously splitting and recombining until they fused perfectly.

Jiu! The alchemy cauldron emitted a joyful, crisp chime!

A rich, intoxicating pill aroma filled the air.

"Success!" Qin Ming beamed with joy, thrilled beyond words. Su Yuqing also wore a smile of approval.

Inside the cauldron, six green Spirit Gathering Pills floated up and down.

Qin Ming reached out and summoned them; six pills flew into his palm. This time, his luck was exceptional—he had even produced two deep green premium-grade Spirit Gathering Pills.

"Heh, congratulations, Brother Qin—you've successfully broken through to mid-grade alchemist."

"If you can brew Spirit Gathering Pills, no other mid-grade pills should pose a challenge," Su Yuqing said, his tone revealing his approval.

Qin Ming put away the pills and bowed deeply to Su Yuqing, sincerely thanking him: "Thank you, Brother Su, for transmitting the true incantation."

Only after using it himself did he realize how immense its significance was.

"Bah, don't go all formal on me—you'll have to fulfill your promise eventually anyway. We're even." Su Yuqing waved his hand.

"Besides, I only taught you because your soul force is unusually strong. Otherwise, even if I taught you, it'd be useless."

"Enough talk. Since you've succeeded in alchemy, let's have a drink."

Qin Ming smiled carefree and replied, "Alright. Today, we drink until we're drunk."

"But first, let me finish using the last of the materials."

After two incense sticks' time.

Another wave of pill aroma spread out.

Qin Ming was even more skilled now; the success rate was significantly higher than before.

This batch yielded ten Spirit Gathering Pills, four of them premium grade.

Qin Ming was in high spirits.

After cleaning the alchemy chamber thoroughly.

The two sat in the courtyard, drinking spirit wine.

Seeing the hour was right, Qin Ming took his leave and bid Su Yuqing farewell.

Back at the Cool Pavilion.

Qin Ming took out the Spirit Gathering Pills he had brewed today, his eyes gleaming with quiet excitement.

"My magic power cultivation needs to catch up," Qin Ming thought. Originally forced by his elemental affinity's limitations, he had chosen the body cultivation path to quickly gain strength and secure resources for his immortal cultivation.

"It proved right—after just over two years of body cultivation, I've already reached power comparable to a Qi Condensation peak cultivator."

"If I'd kept grinding away at the Evergreen Technique daily, even with pills to assist, without enough supply, I'd still be stuck in Qi Condensation mid-stage."

"Eating premium Spirit Gathering Pills every day? My spirit stones wouldn't last."

"Now that I can brew mid-grade pills, I can produce and consume them myself."

"Even the medicinal herbs for Spirit Gathering Pills can all be grown myself—I only need to buy a few auxiliary ingredients from the Juxuan Pavilion."

"Costs are extremely low, saving me vast amounts of spirit stones."

"From now on, I can eat Spirit Gathering Pills like rice."

"And now that I'm a mid-grade alchemist, my wealth will accumulate far faster."

Thinking of this,

Qin Ming immediately sat on the meditation cushion in his quiet chamber.

He first took out one premium Spirit Gathering Pill and swallowed it.

The pure medicinal power flowed through his limbs and meridians.

Qin Ming began circulating the Evergreen Technique, completing the Heavenly Circulation, transforming this power into his own Evergreen magic power.

Gradually, the magic power within his dantian grew considerably stronger.

Once the medicinal potency of this premium Spirit-Gathering Pill was fully digested and absorbed,

Qin Ming took out another premium Spirit-Gathering Pill and swallowed it immediately.

This cycle repeated.

One premium Spirit-Gathering Pill after another was continuously swallowed by him.

Only after all six premium Spirit-Gathering Pills were consumed did Qin Ming proceed to swallow five common-grade Spirit-Gathering Pills in succession.

The current market price for a premium Spirit-Gathering Pill hovered around one hundred and fifty spirit stones per pill, whereas a common Spirit-Gathering Pill cost roughly sixty-five spirit stones each.

In this single cultivation session alone, Qin Ming had consumed pills worth nearly over one thousand spirit stones.

Finally.

Qin Ming's dantian magic power, bolstered by his usual daily accumulation and further amplified by the massive influx of pills, burst forth like a breached dam.

He hastily extended his spiritual sense, exerting all his strength to guide this wild surge of magic power, accelerating its circulation through his cultivation method's heavenly cycle.

Time slowly passed.

Until the middle of the Yin hour.

Boom! Newly born Changchun magic power flowed like the Jianghe River into lakes and seas, continuously expanding and merging into his dantian.

"Finally broken through!"

"Qi Condensation Stage, fifth layer."

Qin Ming opened his eyes, ending his cultivation.

He carefully sensed the magic power within his body.

Qin Ming could barely contain his excitement.

The magic power in his dantian had actually increased by more than twofold.

His current level of magic power now far exceeded that of other cultivators at the same stage.

"As long as I can mass-produce premium Spirit-Gathering Pills,"

"and maintain this cultivation speed,"

"I believe reaching the late stage of Qi Condensation will be just around the corner."

Qin Ming pondered for a while.

Perhaps he truly could deepen his cooperation with the Mirror Snow Pavilion; after all, their influence was not to be underestimated, spanning throughout the Southern Wild Immortal Realm.

This would not only facilitate access to higher-level information channels but also allow him to seek additional cultivation resources.

Of course, this must only be done under circumstances he could completely control.

"Hmm, tomorrow I will go to the Ju Xuan Pavilion to sell the Qi-Condensing Pills and exchange them for some auxiliary materials needed to refine Spirit-Gathering Pills."

PS: Thanks to all fellow Daoists for your monthly tickets and recommendation tickets.

(End of Chapter)